Four days in, and the fatigue is starting to set in for the majority of players. 

Shorter tempers, (slightly) shorter shifts, and shorter benches are the result of the past few days, with several players participating in other summer activities and taking the day off from the Combine. 

But even after four days on continuous competition and physical exertion, the players still find time to take advantage of the LumberYard’s numerous amenities, including shooting stations, puck-handling stations, and the extremely popular “sauce the puck at the tiny net and try to stop it” game.

These amenities feature laser indicators on the stickhandling surface, tracking how fast a player moves the puck, a velocity gun for shooting, and a bar code that after being scanned immediately puts that player in a statistical database with recorded times for skating speed. 

These tools were used by the NOW Prospects Combine players in a skill-testing session, gauging player speed, strength, agility, shot power, stick-handling, and shooting accuracy. 

The technology is the brainchild of Mike Timmons, a Stillwater resident who said that the game-style skill stations are designed to provide fun and improvement to players. 

“The original intent, like with the stick-handling, was to be engaging in itself,” Timmons said Saturday morning during the NOW Prospects Combine session. “But still valuable as a training tool.”

Convenience was also a factor in the technology’s birth. 

“The more technical stations for timing, the idea there was to not have to set up a lot of equipment in order to test or measure (speed),” Timmons said. 

The skill station scores are entered into a database on skillrecorder.com, where players, coaches, and trainers can track player progress for signs of improvement or signs of decline. 

To date, the LumberYard is the only facility in the state that has this type of technology. 

“The LumberYard is basically the testing ground,” Timmons said. “That’s where I’ve ben focusing.”

The NOW Prospects finished testing in the morning, and then settled in to and eight-game gauntlet, with each team playing two games from noon until the last game of the evening. 

GAME 1 RECAP: Maroon 1 VS. Gold 1

In seriously dramatic fashion, Maroon 1 edged Gold 1 18-17 in our first game of the afternoon. 

After a back-and-forth battle, Team Gold 1 pulled its goalie and managed to tie the game at 17-all with just three seconds left on the clock. 

Unfortunately for Gold 1, there are no stoppages of play in 3-on-3 play, and Team Maroon 1 slapped a shot into the empty Gold 1 net with 1 second left to win the game. 

Teddy Lagerback scored nine goals for Gold 1, but the duo of Cam Kluender and Will Svendaal of Maroon 1 combined for 12 goals (six each) to earn the victory. 

DAY 5 SCHEDULE: 3-ON-3 FINALS

9:00 a.m.

7th Place- White 1 vs. White 2

10:00 a.m.

5th Place- Gold 1 vs. Gold 2

11:00 a.m.

3rd Place- Maroon 1 vs. Maroon 2

12:00 p.m.

Championship-  Grey 1 vs. Grey 2

Teddy Lagerback 24 goals

Cam Kluender 13 goals (tie)

Stevan Blauert 13 goals (tie)

Zach Michaelis 12 goals (tie)

Carson Bantle 12 goals (tie)